In honor of the late leader of the Catholic Church, 56th Road between 61st and 64th streets in front of Holy Cross Church was renamed Pope John Paul II Way on Sunday.

Pope John Paul II visited the church in November of 2003. He recalled a time when he stayed at the parish, while he was still the Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków, in September of 1969 and shared coffee and cake with parishioners in the school hall.

Numerous elected officials, the Polish Jewish Dialogue Committee, Polish Vice-Consul General Mateusz Stasiek and hundreds of parishioners participated in the ceremony.

“Pope John Paul II’s long ministry connected people from every nation and helped make the world a more peaceful place,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. “His leadership during the horrors of WWII was a beacon of hope for countless Polish and Jewish communities.”

The official unveiling comes just weeks before Pope John Paul II is officially canonized as a saint on April 26.

“Pope John Paul II touched the lives of billions, and now all Queens residents will be reminded of his legacy for generations to come,” Crowley said.